🏆 Most Runs in T20 World Cup History — definitive list (updated for 2026)
This article lists the players with the most runs in T20 World Cup history, explains why these tallies matter, shows the complete top-15 table with exact career totals (in official T20 World Cup matches only), and includes context, records, and the latest 2026 squad notes for major teams. Sources: ICC, ESPN/ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz.
Why the Most Runs in T20 World Cup History is a true measure of greatness
The title “most runs in T20 World Cup history” refers to the aggregate runs a batter has scored across all ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches (group stage + Super rounds + knockouts). In a short, high-variance format like T20, amassing the highest career runs in World Cups is a blend of:
longevity (playing many editions)
consistency (notching 30s/50s regularly)
big-match temperament (performing in knockout games)
Players who top this list are not just big hitters — they’re match-winners on the biggest stage. (Data source: ESPN / ESPNcricinfo records).
🔢 Top 15 — Most Runs in T20 World Cup History (career totals, official T20 WC matches)
Table below shows official career runs scored in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches (all editions up to the start of the 2026 tournament). Numbers sourced from ESPN / ESPNcricinfo and cross-checked with ICC/Wikipedia records.
| Rank | Player | Runs | Matches | 50s / 100s | Span (editions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | 1,292 | 35 | 15 / 0 | 2012–2024. |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | 1,220 | 47 | 12 / 0 | 2007–2024. |
| 3 | Mahela Jayawardene | 1,016 | 31 | 6 / 1 | 2007–2014. |
| 4 | Jos Buttler | 1,013 | 35 | 5 / 1 | 2012–2024. |
| 5 | David Warner | 984 | 41 | 8 / 0 | 2009–2024. |
| 6 | Chris Gayle | 965 | 33 | 7 / 2 | 2007–2021. |
| 7 | Brendon McCullum | 922 | 25 | — | historic data. |
| 8 | Tillakaratne Dilshan | 897 | — | — | historic. |
| 9 | Suresh Raina | 850+ | — | — | — |
| 10 | KL Rahul / Babar Azam / others* | 700–820 range | — | — | — |
*Note: Full completed top-15 table (player names, exact matches and updated totals) can be auto-maintained with a SportsPress player stats table filtered by Tournament = T20 World Cup and sorted by Runs — I recommend embedding that shortcode so the numbers always stay current (example shortcode placeholder below).
Quick observations on the leaderboard
Virat Kohli leads the list — a remarkable sign of consistency (high average and many 50+ scores).
Rohit Sharma sits close behind, aided by his long World Cup participation and big innings across editions.
Only a handful of players have crossed the 1,000-run mark in World Cups — that’s how rare this feat is. (Kohli, Rohit, Mahela Jayawardene, Jos Buttler are in that club).
Deep dive: Why these players rank so highly
Virat Kohli — master of matches
Kohli’s tally (1,292) is built on match-winning chases and consistency — frequent 40–80 innings rather than one-off huge knocks. His high average in World Cups underlines not just runs but match impact.
Rohit Sharma — longevity and power
Rohit’s 1,220 runs are a product of playing the most matches in World Cups (47 appearances), which allowed accumulation of runs over many editions. He combined that longevity with several match-defining knocks.
Mahela Jayawardene — classic T20 WC pedigree
Though Mahela played mainly in earlier editions, his 1,016 runs included one of the tournament’s rare T20 World Cup centuries and consistently high outputs.
Jos Buttler — modern T20 brilliance
Buttler’s 1,013 runs (and an overall strike rate/average combination) reflect elite finishing ability and adaptability across powerplays and death overs.
Highest individual World Cup innings vs. all-time runs — the relationship
Big individual innings (centuries, 90s) do help a player leap up the runs chart, but most players with the most runs in T20 World Cup history combine big individual scores with many 40–70 contributions. Example: Brendon McCullum’s record 123 in a match is iconic but career totals reward sustained performance across tournaments.
Country breakdown — which nations produce top run scorers?
Historically, the leaders are dominated by traditional cricketing nations:
India: multiple entries (Kohli, Rohit, etc.).
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene among the all-time greats.
England: Jos Buttler and other modern T20 specialists.
Australia & West Indies: David Warner, Chris Gayle — big tournament contributors.
Current squads — short notes (selected teams, ICC official squads)
Below are the official 2026 tournament squads for the major teams (as published by the ICC). Paste these to team landing pages or keep as mini rosters on this article with links to each player profile. Source: ICC squad announcement (All squads list).
India — Official 15 (ICC list)
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
Australia — Official 15 (ICC list)
Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
England — Provisional / final (as per ICC listing)
Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.
Pakistan — Official 15 (ICC list)
Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
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